Julia Ward Howe, 1819-1910

This biography offers a chronological portrait of its subject, beginning with ancestral background and a cultured childhood, and moving through musical training, domestic life, and formative travels. It recounts the effects of the national conflict on family experience, the evolution of literary production and public lecturing, and increasing participation in peace advocacy, women's associations, and international travel. Chapters combine family reminiscence, personal correspondence, and contemporary reportage to trace how artistic temperament and social conscience shaped a public career spanning private devotion, reform campaigns, and enduring civic engagement.